wilson



2 Sheets- R. WILSON, Jr. PROJEOTILE WITH FRANGIBLE GAP.

Sheet- 1.

(No Model.)

No. 465,230. Pate-ntedDec. 15, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet' 2. CT. R. WILSON, Jr.

' PROJIEGTILE WITH FRANGIBLE GAP.

, 5N9. 465,230; Patented Do. 15 1891..

"U ITE ATES ATENT FFECEQ inone'i: R. wILsou; JR.,'OF wAsiu-ucroir,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro JOHN w. ROSS, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

PRO-JECTELE WlTH FRANGIBLE CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,230, dated December15, 1891.

Application filed November 4, 1890; Serial No. 370,309- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE RWILSON, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Wash ington, in the District of Columbia, have-invented newand useful Improvements in Projectiles for Ordnance, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain novel improvements in projectiles forheavy ordnance,

to the purpose thereof being to provide a solid shot or a shell havingsuch formation that it may not. only plow through, penetrate, or tear.up the armor of avessel, but that its flight from the piece firing saidprojectile may be [5 accurate in aim and the range as great as inprojectiles of usual or different construction.

It is my further purpose to provide a projectile having a hollowimperforate conoidal point detachable from and attachable to the body ofthe projectile and composed of any suitable frangible materiahsuch ascast-iron,

a thin plate of high steel, or even porcelain or glass, although the twolatter materials may prove in practice less desirable, the inclosed endof the projectile, which is the active working, penetrating, or plowingend, be-

ing provided with one, two, or more concentric rings orangular shouldersof successively,

increasing diameter from thepointof the pro- 3o-jectile toward its base,whereby the impact of the shot upon the armor of a vessel at any anglewill shatter the conoidal point and expose the active working,penetrating, orplowing end having angular shoulders, which willinstantly bitcinto and plow up or penetrate the metal of the armor,preventing the projectile from deflection or glancing and cansing fargreater destruction and adeeper penetration than is possible with asolid conical 40 shot or a shell unprovided with my said invention.

The invention consists to these ends in the several novel features ofconstruction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth,and then definitely pointed out in the claims following thisspecification.

To enable others skilled in the art to practice my said invention, Iwill proceedto dc- [sdribe the same in detail, reference being had tothe drawings accompanying this specification, in which Figure l is aside elevation ofa projectile embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective of the same, showingthe cap removed. Fig. 3' is a centralvertical section of the projectile. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevationshowing a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing theapplication of the invention to a shell. v In the said drawings, thereference-numeral 6o 1 denotes the body of the projectile, which may besolid, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and which is formed of suitablemetal int he' usual manner and of 'an'y'ee'sim'd form, and provided witha head, which is composed of angular and substantially concentricshoulders 2, having a successively-diminished diameter as they proceedtoward the extreme point 3 of the projectile. These angular shoulderswill preferably be'of circular form, though it is evident that they maybe made of polygonal shape, whereby sharp cutting angles will beprovided, which may alternate one with another, so that one or more willinvariably come in contact with the object aimed at. Said shoulders alsomay be of any number from two upward, and will usually be made ofhardened steel orother suitable metal.

Surroundingand inclosing the active, working, penetrating, or plowingpoint of the projectile upon which the angular shoulders 2 are formed isa conoidal or approximately cone-shaped iznperforate cap 4, whichsurrounds the lower shoulder upon the end of the projectile, theexterior of said cap forming flush surfaces with the body of theprojectile. This cap is constructed of some brittle and easily-shatteredmatcrial-such, for example, as a thin shell of cast-iron or other metal,though glass, porcelain, or even earthenware may be used, provided asutlicient body is employed to impart the necessary strength. This capmay be shrunk upon the shoulder next to the end of the body 1, or it maybe screwed thereon; or, if preferred, it may, if formed of metal, bebrazed, whereby the seam or point will be practically imperceptible. Itspresence preserves the symmetry of the projectile, insures accuracy oftoo flight, and increases the range, whereas should the projectile befired without the conical or colloidal cap or point i the resistanceexerted by the atmosphere upon. the se rres of angular shoulders 2 wouldnecessarily impede its flight and might seriously interfere with theaccuracy of the aim.

'When the projectile strikes the object at which it is fired, the pointor cap 4 is shattered instantaneously, and the angular shoulders 55,which are thereby exposed, are driveninto the Wall, armor-plate, orother object, such as the armor or a vessel of war, instead of beingdeflected or glancing oil, as is usually the case wth conical shot,unless they strike fairly upon the point. The angular shoulders,however, of whatever form they may be made bite into, plow up, andshatter the metal of the armor, and not only makea deeper penetration,but effect far more damage and destruction than is possible with aconical shot not provided with my invention.

I have shown in the drawings in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 a smooth joint betweenthe cap and the projectile, whereby the two maybe united by shrinking orby brazing or such other suitable means as are adapted to this form ofcou struction, l have also illustrated in. Figs. 4 and 5 a male andfemale thread cut upon the head of the projectile or shell and withinthe cap, respectively, whereby said parts are united. I may, however,unite these parts in any other suitable manner, and my invention is notlimited in this respect to any specified construction.

My invention may be applied Without material chaugeto shells of whateverconstruction, provided, of course, that they are of such form'as torequire a conical or colloidal point, as shown in Fig. These shells maybe on plodedfby any of the usual means, such as ,high explosives, timefuses, or other means.

I am aware that heretofore a frangible cap has been used having a plugentering an opening in the end of the shell to fire the bursting charge.A sheet-rnetai cap has also been known for the purpose of yielding animpact to fire a percussiomprirncr. A point my hand and adi twosubscribim witnesses.

composed oi? angular shoulders has also been known, said point beingscrewed upon the end of the shell, and a point composed of angularshoulders, which Wind spirally about the point, has also been invented.I make no claim, broadly, to any of these features.

What I claim is- 1. A. projectile for ordnance, consisting ol a bodyportion. having a striking, plowing, and penetrating point composed of aseries of angular concentric shoulders of successively-diminisheddiameters, and an ixnper forate conical or conoidal cap composed offrangible material, the open base of said cap being engaged with theshoulder at the end of the projectile, the exterior of the cap beingflush \vitirthe outer surface of the projectile, the striking-point ofwhich. is received in and inclosed by said cap, substantially asdescrihed.

2. A projectile for ordnance, consisting of a cylindrical body portionhaving at one end a strilring-point composed of a series of circular andangular shouiders having sides which are parallel to and concentric withthe axis of the projectile and fiat faces at right angles with saidaxis, in combination with a frangible, conical, or couoidal imperforatev cap forming flush exterior surfaces With the body of the projectile,its open base surrou uding and engaging the circular angular shoulricrnearest the end of the projectile, the said strikingpoint of which isreceived in and inclosed and protected by said cap without contact withthe auguiar shoulders, the latter being successively diminished indiameter as they approach the apex of the striking-point,

substantially as described. in i s-tawny whereof I have hereunto set myseal in presence of one. a. WILSON, JR.

"Witnesses:

James L. Noaius, James A. itu'runaronn.

